Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-10-05
THE PUMP SNAKE.
Discovery of q Dakota Reptile That Can
Ee Used to Great Advantage.

Discovery of n Dakota Reptile That Can
Ee Used to Great Advantage.
In Central Dakota, on the MISSOURI bot
toms,h there exists, according to Mount
Vernon ID. IT, correspondent of the Chi
cago tribune, one of Naturo's strangest
freaks. The settlers term it tho pump
snake" How it came there and where it
came from IS yet unknown. 1t first made
its appearance in Emmons County in tho
spring of 1856. A full grown prmp-snakc
measures about sixteen feet in length and
about three inches in diameter. They are
OF grcgarious habits, roaming tho prairies
in large herds, as many as three hundred
having been counted in 4 single flock. In
dissecting enc Of these reptiles there is
found a tube which extends from the roof
of the jaw TO the extremity of the tail and
terminating in an opening. This tube is
about two inches in diameter and lined with
q tough, yielding substance similar to rub
Der. The pump-snake is easily trained to
answer TO the call of man. The inhabitants
in this section trap them III large numbers
A farlnc; on Cat Tail creek has a flock of
twenty pImp-snal1os trained to a rcmarsa-
bic degree of proficiency. AT tho blast of O
whistle tho snakes assemble on tho banks
Of the creek. The leader (therc is always a
leader to a herd CT these snakes, who is
elected by two-thirds majority, dashes into
the water Of the creek, leaving only the ex-
trcnity of it's tail on the bank Another
snake immediately grasps the end of the
leader 5 tail in its jaws, third snake takes
hold of tho second snakes tail III similar
manner, and SO on until there is q continu-
ous line of snakes joined end-on, extending
to the watcr-troughs in the cattle yards,
three hundred feet away. The leading
sra!ke commences to swallow or pump the
waters of the creek, which passes through
the long line of snakes as it would through
a hose, and falls in a heavy stream into the
trough.
This agricalturistt toldsof extraordinary
circumstance which occurred short time
ago. While working in the field near his
home he observed flames issuing from tho
rcof OF his barn. Wild with excitement he
hurried TO the burning building only TO see
that 1t was hopeless task for himself alone
to attempt to cxtinguish the flames. In de-
spair he gazed on The work of destruction:
suddenly he heard loud rustling in the tall
grass, whence issued his herd of pump
snakes on the run. The leader hurled him
self INTO the creek, tho rest instantly ad-
justing themselves, heads and tails, from
the creek 20 the burning building. The
last snake, standing on its he'd. waved its
long and flexible body, from the tail end Of
which issued a stream of water that was
thrown with terrific force on the burning
building. Back and forth dashed the tail.
end Of that living hose, squirting the water
where it would do the most good, while the
loud pumping of the leader could be heard
above the roar of tho confiagration. Within
fifteen minutes the last spark was out.
Then, and not until then, did the pump
snakes quit work. They were completely
exhausted, the leader having tainted away.
The main part Of tho building and its con-
tents were saved, thanks to the presence Of
mind of these wonderful snakes
The Territorial Government is becoming
awakened TO the extreme usefulness OF
these interesting creatures, and laws are to
be enacted TO protect the pump-snake.